Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The world is witnessing changes that it has not seen in a while. The fires in Hawaii are serious and deadly. Of course with the internet today, news spreads faster and it also more constant. The loss of life in those fires is sad. We do not know if any of those people were saved or not. We know from the news that paganism was prominent in that area as in many others as well. That is the most tragic part of it all.
As we look at our text today, most people still echo the words of the devil: “yea hath God said?” That is an interesting question.
Ten times in Genesis 1 we find the phrase: “and God said.” Throughout the Bible the phrase “Thus saith the Lord is found many times. There is no question that God has communicated with man in no uncertain terms. It is not that man cannot know. It is that man chooses not to know.
Certainly in the context of our text, Eve knew what God had said. Adam was given very clear instructions directly from God. Adam was very intelligent. He did not have any problem processing what God said to him. Eve was also very intelligent. She also did not have any problem processing what God said to them.
We cannot enter into the mindset of Adam and Eve. We know that they were unique to humanity. They were not created as little gods. They could never become gods as the devil suggested. He lied to Eve, and she was deceived into accepting that lie. Adam chose to ignore the very clear command of God and he took of that forbidden fruit and became a lost sinner.
We know from Genesis 3 that Adam had no valid reason for doing what he did. God held him accountable, based on what He had told him. God never demands anything without justification. God recorded His Word for all of humanity. God created the gift of language. Communication is important. In the beginning, God communicated with man directly. The entire world was of one language until Genesis 11. This was after the flood. Communication was not a problem. The problem was with the heart.
I heard reports from the fires in Hawaii that records of past history have been destroyed with the fires. In several accounts the people talked of the traditions and the history being gone. The people will now rely on what they have kept in their heads. Some of their history will be lost. Our memories are not that good. When we do not have accurate records, we cannot check our thoughts. Now people will discuss among themselves but even that will not give them accurate records.
God has been good to man in that He has made sure that what He has said, is always available to man. He is eternal. A fire might destroy a person’s Bible in their home. If they are saved, they will have remembered some of God’s Word. The good news is that they can always purchase another Bible. God’s Word cannot be destroyed. It is important to remember that God’s Word is contained in the King James Version for the English speaking world.
As we have witnessed, God’s Word is being corrupted by man, but it cannot be destroyed. We know in Genesis 3, Satan corrupted God’s Word. We know that Eve also corrupted God’s Word. However, the truth was still available then and it is still available to us today. We should be thankful for God’s mercy and grace in preserving His Word for each and every generation.
The truth needs to be important to all people. God created man with a curious mind. He also gave man His Word to satisfy that curiosity. Millions of dollars and thousands of hours have been wasted on man’s pursuit for an alternative reality. That pursuit will continue until the end of time. In the midst of this pursuit, it is important for those who are saved to proclaim God’s Word to man.
What is needed is for man to humble himself to accept God’s Word as truth. We do not need to ask: “Yea hath God said?” We need to ask: “what has God said?” We need to be sure we are taking what God said and asking Him for understanding of what He had declared. We cannot do this unless we accept what He has said.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of the pure Word of God. The purity of God’s Word is of greater importance than anything else. The devil encourages man to be intellectually lazy. He encourages man to be satisfied with approximates. We know that estimates do not work in construction. We have enough history of projects that were not completed properly and the disastrous results of that over time.
We can also know that those who ignore what God has said, face an eternity in torment. There were people in Hawaii that suffered for a few moments as the fire took their lives. That pain would have been real. However, the greater issue is where did they go when they died? If they chose to ignore what God has said, they are in much greater agony today. They will never find any relief either.
They interviewed a man who was living with a woman in sin and they escaped into the ocean to get away from the flames. They were separated in the panic and when he came back out of the water and stepped onto the pavement, it was so hot it burned both of his feet. It showed him with bandaged feet and one leg as well. He was not prepared for that heat. He is not prepared for eternity either. He has made some foolish choices. Those choices are becoming more normative all the time. However, God has said. We know what is right and what is wrong. It is important for those who know the true God to remind people of the facts. Let us keep in mind:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

When Jesus Christ came to this earth, the world was not looking for the Messiah. There were people groaning under the weight of sin. There were a few people looking with anticipation for the Messiah. The majority of mankind was too busy with “life.” God sent His Son to step into the path of humanity. The birth of Jesus Christ caused quite a stir. The life of Jesus Christ caused quite a stir. The Pharisees hated Him for coming. The Roman government was worried that He would overthrow their corrupt system. A few were blessed in trusting in the fulfilled promise. They believed what was said by God.
As we continue in our lives today, we hear a lot of noise from the media and from government and health authorities. Much of what they say is just noise. However, they have managed to have the backing of the “law” on their side. It is difficult to win against them. However, those who are saved still have the truth. We can still stand upon what God has said. We can still remind others of what God has said. By His mercy and grace a few will listen and turn to God and be saved. That is a blessing to see.
Pastor Bartel